Cable winch



A. G. GuRRlEs ET AL CABLE WINCH INVENTORS ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 9, 1951 Filed A g. 21, 1946 Jan. 9, 1951 A. G. GURRIES ET AL CABLE WINCH Filed Aug. 21, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZZZ/c5. 2

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A. G. GURRIES ET AL.

CABLE WINCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS .49. G. Gurras BY 7.".By feeslzng ETTYS Patented Jan. 9, 1951 n CABLE WINCH Albert G. Gurries, Gilroy, Calif., and Thomas B. Keesling, Orlando, Fla., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to Be-Ge Manufacturing 00., Gilroy, Calif., a corporation of California Application August 21, 1946, Serial No. 691,938

This invention relates to improvements in cable winches such as are adapted to be mounted on a tractor and driven from the power take-01f shaft of the latter; this type of cable winch being commonly known as a power control unit.

One object of this invention is to provide a cable winch which includes, in direct unitary relationship with each cable drum, a clutch unit'of novel construction and operation; such clutch unit being fluid' pressure actuated, preferably hydraulically.

Another object of thepresent invention is to provide a clutch unit, as in the preceding paragraph, which comprises, in combination with a cable drum rotatably but axially immovably mounted on a driven shaft, a non-flexible clutch disc disposed in concentric cooperative relation to one end head of the cable drum, said one end head of the cable drum being formed exteriorly with a flat radial clutch face, the disc being mounted on and driven by the shaft but axially movable therealong; a diaphragm plate fixed with said one end head in facing cooperative'relation to the clutch disc on the opposite side from said end head but for rotation therewith; a closure member mounted in connection with and covering the diaphragm plate from the outside so as to form a pressure chamber therebetween; and means todeliver fluid pressure to said chamber whereby to cause the diaphragm plate to deflect axially inwardly and to drivingly engage the clutch disc between said diaphragm plate and said clutch face. The closure member is' 'a dome which clears the diaphragm plate, except at its periphery, and thus forms a pressure chamber of substantial capacity, whcreby a cushioned clutch action-results, and a nicety of clutch control is accomplished.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a cable winch which incorporates, in rugged, compact and unitaryrelationship, a pair of cable drums; a fluid pressure actuated clutch unit for each thereof; a fluid pressure actuated brake assembly for each cable drum; a fluid pump to supply the pressure for control of the alcove clutch units and brake assemblies; and a fluid reservoir formed in the main case of the winch and interposed in the fluid pressure control system thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practical cable winch, and one which is exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of 1 Claim. (01. 254-187) 2 as will fully appear by a perusal of the followin specification and claim.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the cable winch takenon line ll of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. '3 is a cross section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. i is a diagram of the fluid pressure control system for the cable winch.

, Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the cable winch comprises a main case, indicated generally at l, and formed at the front thereof with an attachment plate or face? adapted to be connected in abutting relationship to a corresponding part of the tractor adjacent the power take-off shaft thereof.

In the bottom portion thereof the main case i is provided with a transversely extending worm 3 carried, adjacent opposite ends, in bearings indicated at 4 and 5.

At its front end the worm 3 includes a spindle 6 disposed in a pocket I; said spindle Gbeing adapted to aline with, and to be connected in driven relation to, the power take-off shaft of the tractor.

. Above the worm 3, and at right angles thereto, the winch includes a heavy-duty main shaft 8 which extends axially through said winch, being supported from the case, at opposite ends thereof, by bearings 9.

Within the casethe main shaft 8 is fixed with a heavy-duty worm gear [0, which runs in mesh with the worm 3, whereby the power from the tractor as transmitted through the spindle 6, worm 3, and worm gear l0, causes rotation of the main shaft 8.

At opposite ends the main shaft 8 projects out of the case i, and these projecting end portions of the shaft rotatably but axially immovably support a pair of cable drums, each of which is indicated at H. The cable drums are supported, from the end portions of the main shaft 8, by mans of bearings I2. Suitable seals, indicated generally at I3, are arranged in association With the bearings 9 and I2.

At the outer end thereof each cable drum H is fitted with a fluid pressure actuated clutch unit, indicated generally at l 4, and as these clutch units are identical a description of one will suffice for both. Each such clutch unit is constructed, as follows:

such structure andrelative arrangement of parts -A circular non-flexible clutch disc l5, of sub;

and said clutch disc runs in cooperative rela" tion to a flat radial clutch face i9 formed on the outside of the end head I6.

A relatively thin circular diaphragm plate 29,

preferably of steel, is disposed in concentric .co'

operative relation to the clutch disc I5-on' the side thereof opposite the end head 16; said diaphragm plate 20 being fixed, at the periphery, by a circumferential row of bolts 2|, to an an:- nular, axially outwardly projecting flange 22-onthe end head It. The diaphragm plate 29 is thus mounted for rotation with said end head [5. In the normal position of the above parts, the clutch disc l5 runs free between the clutch face IQ of end head l6 and the diaphragm plate 20, whereby the cable drum 1 l is then stationary.

Beyond or outwardly of the diaphragm plate 20, the clutch unit includes a dome 23 which cov ers said diaphragm plate and forms a pressure chamber 24 on the side thereof opposite the clutch disc IS; the dome 23 being fixed, at the periphery, to said diaphragm plate 20, and to the flange 22, by means of an annular and peripheral securingring 25 likewise held in place by the bolts 2|.

To supply fluid under pressure to each chamber 24 there is provided a rotary fitting 26 centrally mounted in connection with each dome 23, and a fluid pressure sup-ply conduit z'l'which is coupled to each fitting 26. The conduits 21 are incorporated in a valve controlled, fluid pressure system, hereinafter described in detail.

Each clutch unit !4 functions in the following manner:

The shaft 8 is constantly driven, rotating the clutch disc 55. However, as previously described,

such rotation of the clutch disc I5 is not normally imparted to the cable drum l i.- To cause rotation of the cable drum ll, fluid under pressure is introduced from the corresponding conduit 21 through the adjacent fitting 26 into the pressure chamber 24; the fluid preferably being oil under pressure. The fluid pressure asintroduced in chamber-2:3 causes an axially inward deflection of the diaphragm plate 20, whereby the clutch i5 is then frictionally engaged or clamped between said diaphragm plate and the clutch face E9 of the end head l6. When this occurs the cable drum 1 l is coupled in driven relation, by the clutch unit, to the main shaft 8; the drum running in a' direction to'wind the cable (not shown) thereon.

Each of the cable drums l! is normally maintained against rotation in a cable pay-out direc-, tion by a set or on brake assembly. As said brake assemblies are identical a description of one will sufiice for both. Each such brake assembly is constructed as follows:

The inner end head 28 of each cable drum 'l l is formed, at the periphery, with a brake drum 29; and a brake band 30, of slightly less than a full circle in circumference, encircles the brake drum 29 between vertically spaced points at the front of the winch.

At one end the brake band 30 is formed with a lug 3| which bears downwardly against a cross fluid pressure fromthe-clutch conduit 52 is bled 'crank lever 34 is swung in a counter-clockwise direction, the brake band 30 is tightened and the brake set.

Motion of the bellcrank lever in an opposite direction releases the brake.

A fluid pressure actuated power cylinder 31 is disposed on top of the main case i and includes a projecting piston rod 38 having an attach-1 mentclevis 39 thereon. The power cylinder 31 is pivoted, as at 48, and extends toward the upstanding leg of the bellcrank lever 34; the clevis 39 being pivoted, as at..4l, to the upper end of said upstanding leg.

' A heavy-duty compression spring 42 surrounds the piston rod 33, within the cylinder 3'1, between the piston 45 and the end of said cylinder adv jacent the bellcrank lever 34. whereby said spring normally retracts the piston and swings the bellcrank lever 34 in a brake setting direction. Thus, with the described arrangement each brake is normally in set or on position. To releaseeach brake, fluid under pressure is fed through a con,- duit 44 into the end of the cylinder 3| opposite the red 38, causing :advance of the piston 43 against the compression of spring 42, and causing projection of the rod 38 which results in brake release motion of the, bellcrank lever 34.

If, for any reason, fluid pressure should not be available to release each brake, brake release can be effected manuallyby an upstanding hand lever 45 on shaft 35 adjacent bellcrank lever 34; the hand lever 45 having a boss 46 projecting laterally in intersecting relation to the upstanding leg of lever 34. If hand lever 45 is swung in a clock-. wise direction the boss 46 engages and moves the lever 34 in a brake release direction.

The brake assembly corresponding to each cable drum ll and the adjacent clutch unit are interposed in a valve controlled, fluid pressure system, as shown diagrammaticallyv in Fig. :4. This valve controlled, fluid pressure system comprises a pump 41, which pump is mounted in a manner clearly shown in Fig. 2. Thepump is mounted in a manner so that it may be driven from the adjacent end of the worm 3 through the medium ofa drive connection 48.

From the pump 41 fluid under pressure is de-' livered through a feed conduit 49 to valves '50; which valveseach correspond to one of the cable drums. The valves 50 are mounted indirect con-' nection with the winch, and each include a control handle 5|. Said valves 58 are arranged, in the porting thereof, so that fluid pressure may be alternately fed to, or released from, conduits 52 and 53 which lead to the corresponding clutch unit l4 and power cylinder 31. The conduits 52 and53 incorporate, as part thereof, the conduits 2'1- and 44, respectively. When one of the valves 50 is set to feed fluid pressure to a clutch unit l4, the feed to the corresponding brake cylinder remains shut off. By this arrangement each brake assembly remains set, when the corresponding clutch is engaged; the brake, however, automatically releasing as the cable drum turns in a cable wind-up direction;-

'When each valve 50' is in its opposite position,

into a return conduit 54, whereupon the corresponding'clutch l4 disengages, while fluid feeds to conduit 53 to release the brake assembly. The return conduit '54 leads back to the input of the pump 41, and said return conduit is in communication with a reservoir 55 ahead of said pump. The reservoir 55 is formed as an integral part of the main case I at the back thereof, and includes a cover plate 56. A variable pressure relief valve 51 is interposed in the return conduit 55 between the reservoir 55 and pump 41, and is connected by a bypass conduit 58 with the feed conduit 49. In this manner pressure from the pump bypasses through conduit 58 when such pressure builds up beyond a predetermined value in conduit 49. By adjustment of the pressure relief valve 51, the working pressure of the system may be regulated.

As a safety feature each of the cable drums l I is formed with a cable shield 59 which extends over the top part of each drum I! and some distance down the sides thereof. At the front ends the shields 59 are connected by clamps 60 with the cross shaft 32, while at their rear ends the shields '59 are connected by clamps 6| with another cross shaft 52 on the main case I.

The cable winch, as above described, provides an effective, practical, and rugged structure for the power control of cable; the clutch units as embodied in the winch being long-lived, and requiring a minimum of maintenance or repair. Any such maintenance or repair as may be necessary can be accomplished easily and quickly merely by the removal of the bolts 2|, which permits of access to the entire assembly of the corresponding clutch unit.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein. I

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent is desired:

In a winch, a driven shaft, a cable drum turnable on the shaft and formed at one end with an end head through which the shaft projects, a double-faced clutch disc splined on and enclosing the projecting portion of the shaft and disposed outwardly of the end head for frictional engagement therewith, a normally flat resilient metal diaparagm plate disposed outwardly of the clutch disc and shaft in position to frictionally engage and advance the disk upon inward bowing of the plate, a dome outwardly of the plate forming a pressure tight chamber therewith, and means to secure the dome and plate on the end head for rotation therewith; there being means to admit fluid under pressure to the chamber.

ALBERT G. GURRIES. THOlVIAS B. KEESLING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain June 9, 1942 

